Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Friday, September 2, 2011

We have . . . FREE POWER!!

Yesterday SRP came out and "blessed" the solar panel configuration and has given us (and SRSW) permission to connect the solar panels to the grid and we started generating free power around 1030am. First day we have produced only 25 kWh of power but we also only used 50 kWh of power from the grid. One of our AC units was offline due to a capacitor going bad and we got that fixed at 8am so that kind of complicated a true reading of how much power we would normally use. I'm excited and am getting a sun tan just walking out and checking the 3 displays on the side of the house trying to figure out how much power is being made and how much weight in carbon emissions I'm saving this world.

So I called the accounting deptartment of SRSW to get "squared away" and the accountant was making comments like "ah geez" when I read the line about getting reimbursed $200 per day after Aug 5th. All in all we will be getting reimbursed a hefty amount and I'm hoping they don't figure it is cheaper just to take me out - ha ha (weak laugh).

So I'm sure that I'm the only one reading my posts but I must say it feels good to be using solar power and I'm anxious to see if my $400 electric bill that SRP was predicting for my next bill actually is at the end of the month.

Bottom line, after patiently waiting for over a year, getting a solar system installed on my roof that will generate 45% of my annual power cost a one time lease fee of $1914. That ROI worked out far better than I ever anticipated but it was a pain to deal with all the delays, failures on SRSW's side to communicate with me etc - still I'd say it was worth it.

Andrwe "living green" Brown